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Wednesday, September 22, 2010

I love Cape May! Last week I taught there at the Rugs By The Sea Rug Camp. We stayed at the charming Chalfonte Hotel:

Everything was going on here...the classes, our rooms, and all the meals...the food was delicious and the weather was perfect! Students could hook outside while sitting on the porch. We were just 2 short blocks from the beach and the ocean.

I have a new passion now...collecting sea glass! I spent several mornings on the beach, watching the sun rise and trying to find little shards of sand-polished glass in the low tide (I found 5 pieces!).

One of the charming attractions of Cape May is the abundance of beautiful Victorian buildings and their gingerbread decoration:

I think the next time I go back, I'll concentrate on taking more pictures of the decorative houses and buildings. They are so inspiring!

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

I have been AWOL from my blog but for good reason...I've been traveling and teaching and having great fun in the process. Last week, I was in Cape May, New Jersey, teaching at Rugs By The Sea Rug Camp. My - oh - my! It was certainly an excellent adventure!!! I drove to Cape May along with my sister. We left on 9/11, and realized that we would be driving right past Shanksville, PA, which is near the crash site of United Flight 93. We decided to stop and pay our respects on the 9th anniversary of that tragic September day. So my blog post is dedicated to honor the heroes and patriots of that flight.

Here is part of a memorial left on the chain link fence. There were many more memorials and items left by family and friends. There were hundreds of blue and white ribbons tied to the fence too, and you could hear them fluttering in the wind...it was so quiet and hushed....

In the morning, these bells were rung 40 times, once for each passenger and crew member that was aboard the plane.

If you click on the picture, you can see a fenced in area, which is the actual crash site. There is a lone American flag to pinpoint the spot. Since the crash site is considered a cemetery, no one is allowed to go down to the fenced in area. However, on this day, family members were allowed to go there and place wreaths by the flag. A wall memorial is under construction and is scheduled to be open by September 11, 2011, the 10th anniversary of the crash.

Since we arrived in the early evening, we got to participate in a flag ceremony before the memorial park closed. The Flight 93 flag is only unfurled once a year on September 11th, so I was quite honored and moved to be a part of it. As you can see, it was quite emotional and spiritual.

The fourth gentleman on the left was the chaplain that led the flag ceremony. The fifth and sixth gentlemen on the left worked for the Shanksville Fire Dept. and were first-responders to the scene after the plane crash.

This was the evening sky above us as the ceremony ended. My photo could not capture the total beauty but there was a peacefulness that embraced us. It was truly an unforgettable experience.

~~~

I'll post more pictures of my trip tomorrow! Go hug someone and tell them that you love them.....

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About Me

My name is Kris Miller and I am the owner of Spruce Ridge Studios. I specialize in delightful original rug hooking patterns and rug hooking supplies. I have loved textiles and making things by hand for as long as I can remember. I also love animals and I have an assortment of pampered sheep, an angora goat, alpacas, and a dog. Visit my website at www.spruceridgestudios.com